Iowa Auditor Rob Sand has released a new audit of Ida County, detailing a year of sharply rising revenues and expenses—and identifying two material weaknesses in the county’s internal controls.
Sand issued the report yesterday.
According to the audit, Ida County brought in $22.4 million during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025—a 76 percent increase from the previous year. The jump was driven almost entirely by a major transfer of infrastructure assets from the Iowa Department of Transportation, along with higher property tax collections and increased tax‑increment financing revenue.
County expenses also climbed. Spending totaled $13.7 million, up nearly 20 percent, with the largest increases tied to road maintenance and construction, public safety, and administrative costs.
With revenues outpacing expenses, Ida County’s overall net position grew by $8.6 million, or 31 percent.
Beyond the financial trends, auditors identified five findings related to the receipt and expenditure of taxpayer funds. Two of those issues were repeats from the prior year.
One of the most significant findings involved segregation of duties. Auditors reported that too few employees were involved in key financial processes, increasing the risk of errors or misuse of funds.
Sand’s office recommended that county officials strengthen internal controls by involving additional staff or elected officials in reviewing receipts, reconciliations, and financial reports—and to document those reviews with initials and dates.
Another finding involved financial reporting errors. Auditors determined that material amounts of receivables and capital assets were not properly recorded in the county’s financial statements.
To correct this, the Auditor’s Office recommended implementing procedures to ensure all year‑end balances are accurately recorded, including independent review of cutoff transactions.
A third issue involved budget compliance, where certain appropriations exceeded the amounts approved by the county board of supervisors. Auditors advised the county to monitor budgets more closely throughout the year and amend them before disbursements exceed authorized levels.
Across all findings, Sand again reminded county leaders of their fiduciary responsibility to provide consistent oversight, noting that oversight requires “watchful and responsible care” in managing public funds.
A full copy of the Ida County audit is available on the Auditor of State’s website.
